00:01Mark Carney has arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, heading to the European Political Community Summit,
00:06as he spearheads efforts to create a middle powers alliance.
00:10This Canadian Prime Minister, holding both Canadian and British passports,
00:14represents a unique bridge between the Anglo world and a Europe increasingly wary of American isolationism.
00:21And this forum could offer Canada a vital opening to build new European ties.
00:26But could the world's most European, non-European country actually become the 28th EU member state?
00:35Almost 60% of Canadians now support joining the bloc,
00:39with over 80% prioritizing stronger economic ties as a buffer against US political turmoil.
00:45And the latest surveys show most Germans and Spaniards back Canadian accession,
00:50while in Poland, France and Italy proponents significantly outweighed those in opposition.
00:55And hey, Ottawa is no geopolitical lightweight.
01:00Canada's population is around 41 million, which is roughly 10% of the current EU bloc.
01:06And while being a founding NATO member, it remains outside the European Economic Area.
01:12However, and that's interesting, its GDP per capita remains significantly higher than the EU average.
01:18So, if Ottawa ever entered the Union, it would be a wealthy net contributor.
01:24Alright, but despite the public enthusiasm, the Brussels bubble has just issued a polite reality check.
01:30Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos recently confirmed that while Canada is a state,
01:36it fails the European state requirement of Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union.
01:42And unlike Ukraine or Turkey, Canada lacks the geographic and ancient cultural connections,
01:48necessary to satisfy current treaties without a total legal overhaul.
01:53However, this relationship could evolve toward a bespoke model mirroring Norway or Switzerland.
01:59A close family bond that provides deep integration into the single market and security programs,
02:05while stopping just short of a formal marriage.
02:08If Europe wants to become more independent, yes indeed, we need partners like Canada.
02:15And for that, Canadians could one day say yes.
02:19Ha!
02:19Or we, as both English and French, are Canada's official languages.
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